Irell & Manella LLP

Alan Heinrich’s practice focuses on intellectual property litigation. He has extensive experience litigating patents in the fields of biotechnology, medical devices and high tech. He has been a member of trial teams that have obtained multi-hundred million-dollar judgments on behalf of patent owners and have also successfully defended against multi-hundred million-dollar damages claims on behalf of accused infringers. Alan previously served on Irell & Manella LLP’s Executive Committee and as chair of the firm's Hiring Committee. He is an adjunct faculty member at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he teaches Patent Intensive, an advanced patent law seminar, and has also taught Patent Law and Federal Courts at Loyola Law School.

An experienced patent litigator, Amy E. Proctor advises clients on intellectual property issues and handles patent infringement disputes across a wide range of technologies. Amy has helped obtain hundreds of millions of dollars for patent holders. Amy also defends clients against patent infringement claims, protecting the accused from significant liability. With technical and industry expertise, Amy provides solution-oriented advice to overcome the unique challenges facing each of her clients. Among several high-profile awards, in 2023, Amy was selected to The Recorder’s “Lawyers on the Fast Track (under 40)” for the second year running. In 2022, she was named to Bloomberg Law’s nationwide “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40” list for her “intelligence, drive and common sense thinking on complicated matters” and selected to the Daily Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” lists. Law360 also named her as one of only five “Technology Rising Stars” in 2021. Amy has particular expertise in proving patent damages, including by carefully apportioning complex technology to a patented invention’s footprint. She believes in applying innovative scientific and econometric approaches to quantify the specific benefits created by her clients’ inventions, and then distilling those benefits into value that is easily recognized. Amy earned her J.D. from the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, where she graduated Order of the Coif and received the Malcolm Lucas Award. As an undergraduate, she worked as a research assistant in the University of Florida Chan Physics Lab, where she helped implement a method for measuring the quantum forces associated with the Casimir effect. Her research focused on refining fabrication techniques to improve microelectromechanical system performance. Amy also completed an REU program at the University of California, Los Angeles Physics Department, where she assisted with high-speed tracking of membrane proteins.

Andrew Strabone

Andrew Strabone focuses his practice on complex business disputes, with an emphasis on intellectual property and securities litigation. He has represented clients in a broad range of industries, including the financial services, telecommunications, computer hardware, semiconductor, entertainment and biopharmaceutical industries. Andrew has experience at all stages of litigation, including recently obtaining nine-figure verdicts and findings of patent infringement, validity and willfulness in each of eight separate jury trials. Andrew is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He also is actively involved in other aspects of firm management as a member of the Hiring, Diversity and Mentoring Committees. Andrew attended UCLA School of Law, where he served as co-editor in chief of the Journal of Law and Technology. Additionally, Andrew maintains an active pro bono practice. Most recently, he successfully argued on behalf of a pro bono client in front of the California Court of Appeal to reverse and remand a custody order granting legal custody to a proven domestic violence abuser.

Annita Zhong focuses her practice on patent litigation, contested patent office proceedings and licensing in the United States, the European Union and China. Examples of her recent, diverse practice include serving as lead Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) counsel defending a portfolio of patents in 29 inter partes review (IPR) proceedings filed by the largest handset manufacturers in the world, resulting in a perfect record with no claims invalidated including two final written decisions upholding all challenged claims. This was the largest campaign against a single patent owner in a single year. Annita also served as lead PTAB counsel defending a large cellular standard essential patent (SEP) portfolio against Apple, resulting in a perfect non-institution record in the PTAB. Additionally, she served as lead Chinese patent and litigation counsel in the defense of a large cellular SEP portfolio in China that involved 28 contested proceedings before the Chinese Intellectual Property Office and the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court. After receiving her Ph.D. from California Institute of Technology and before attending law school, Annita worked as a senior research scientist in the areas of catalysis, semiconductor packaging and bio-imaging at General Electric Company's Global Research Center in Niskayuna, New York. She is a co-author and co-inventor of peer-reviewed journal articles and issued patents, including serving as a lead author on a paper that garnered over 300 citations. Annita’s time as a senior research scientist exposed her to a wide array of technology and allows her to rapidly develop subject matter expertise in diverse technologies. Her deep knowledge in semiconductor fabrication and packaging, computer architecture, telecommunication technology, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and chemistry and materials, makes her an extraordinarily valuable asset for holders and creators of intellectual property.

Ben Hattenbach’s practice is focused on intellectual property litigation and counseling, with a particular emphasis on the trial of complex patent infringement matters. He has served as a member of the firm's Executive Committee for more than a decade, and is vice chair of the Litigation practice. While representing patent holders, Ben has obtained more than six billion dollars in judgments and settlements, including the largest judgment in the history of our patent system. In addition, on multiple occasions he has represented patent litigation defendants who succeeded in turning the tables and recovering hundreds of millions of dollars from the plaintiffs that had sued them. For 10 years, the Daily Journal has named Ben one of the top 75 intellectual property litigators in California. He was recognized by The American Lawyer as a “Litigator of the Week” in 2021, and by Best Lawyers as the Los Angeles Technology Law “Lawyer of the Year” for 2022 and 2024. He has been described as “an exceptionally talented patent litigator who fully dedicates himself to his clients,” “fantastically smart” and “super-bright, creative and tenacious” (Chambers USA), and “a tactically clever lawyer who thinks 15 moves ahead” (IAM 1000). Ben represents clients of all sizes in intellectual property-related disputes before federal and state courts, as well as the U.S. International Trade Commission and arbitration panels. A registered patent attorney, he also regularly litigates contested proceedings, such as inter partes reviews, before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. On the transactional and counseling side, Ben provides strategic guidance regarding patent portfolio management, licensing and acquisitions. In his spare time, Ben is an internationally published landscape photographer who enjoys exploring remote wilderness areas.

Charlotte J. Wen’s practice includes a range of intellectual property and general commercial litigation matters, including actions for patent infringement, trademark infringement, and breach of contract. Charlotte has experience at all stages of litigation, from pre-filing investigation through appeals, including drafting discovery motions and dispositive motions, working with fact and expert witnesses, preparing for and taking depositions, examining witnesses at trial, arguing trial objections, and drafting appellate briefs. Charlotte earned her J.D. from the USC Gould School of Law, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif and awarded the Arthur Manella Prize. While in law school, Charlotte served on the executive board of the Southern California Law Review. She also worked as an intern for the USC Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic, where she advised clients on copyright and privacy law issues, and drafted a DMCA rulemaking brief to the U.S. Copyright Office. Prior to law school, Charlotte worked as a web developer and graphic designer. Charlotte is proficient in Mandarin Chinese.

Christopher Abernethy

Chris Abernethy's practice focuses on intellectual property litigation, transactions and counseling. With an emphasis on patent litigation, Chris has represented clients at trial and on appeal in numerous federal courts, in the U.S. International Trade Commission, and in contested proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Chris's practice also includes patent portfolio management, licensing and transactions. Chris is an IP strategist who combines his deep understanding of technology and intellectual property to support his clients’ business goals and maximize the value of their portfolios. With a background in computer engineering, Chris is particularly known for his sophisticated understanding of complex technologies. His legal practice has spanned a broad array of technological fields, including, among others, computer microprocessor architectures, digital video encoding (AVC, HEVC, VP9, AV1), digital televisions and displays (LCD, OLED), wireless communications (LTE, UMTS, WiFi, Bluetooth), battery charger technology, catastrophic risk analysis software, self-balancing electric vehicles (hoverboards), light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatments. In addition to his practice, Chris regularly writes and speaks on intellectual property issues. Among other things, Chris has taught the semester-long patent law course at Loyola Law School Los Angeles, and he has guest lectured on IP issues at Stanford Law School, the UC Berkeley School of Law, the UCLA School of Law and the University of California Irvine School of Law. Chris is an active member of Irell & Manella LLP's Hiring Committee.

David McPhie’s practice focuses on intellectual property matters and other complex disputes. He has represented clients at every stage of litigation through trial and appeal in courts across the country, including the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the U.S. International Trade Commission. His legal and technical experience spans a wide variety of technological fields, including medical devices, software, semiconductors, computer networking and security, telecommunications, storage media and consumer electronics. David has repeatedly been named to the Southern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. Two of his trial victories were selected as a “Top Defense Verdict” by the Daily Journal. More recently, David litigated a complex dispute involving over a dozen patents that resulted in a $175 million payment to his client. Prior to starting law school, David co-authored the book Perl How to Program with Deitel & Associates, a best-selling publisher of computer programming textbooks.

Elizabeth Tuan’s practice focuses primarily on patent litigation in a wide range of industries, including biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Recently, she represented a biopharmaceutical company and a cancer institution in pursuing infringement of a patent claiming a novel cancer immunotherapy. The litigation ended in a $752 million jury verdict, which the judge enhanced to $1.2 billion. Elizabeth’s practice also includes representing clients in post-grant proceedings challenging the validity of issued patents before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Most recently, she represented a patent owner in an inter partes review and successfully secured a final written decision rejecting each of the petitioner’s validity challenges in that proceeding. The Federal Circuit affirmed that decision in a summary affirmance. Additionally, Elizabeth maintains an active pro bono practice. Most recently, she successfully argued on behalf of pro bono clients in front of the California Court of Appeal, which affirmed the decision of the trial court denying a petition to compel arbitration. The case settled favorably. Elizabeth is also a member of the firm’s Hiring and Diversity Committees, and recently served as the co-chair of the firm’s Summer Committee. Elizabeth is conversant in Mandarin Chinese.

Ian Washburn’s practice focuses on intellectual property and complex business litigation, including patent and trademark pre-grant and post-grant proceedings, as well as appellate work. He has represented clients in numerous federal courts as well as before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the ICC International Court of Arbitration and the Delaware Court of Chancery. In addition, he assists companies in developing and managing intellectual property portfolios and advises them during patent license negotiations. Ian’s experience spans a wide range of industries, including the biomedical, pharmaceutical, semiconductor and semiconductor packaging and computer networking sectors as well as higher education. He has also taught classes regarding patent law and patent licensing at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and University of California, Irvine School of Law. He serves as vice chair of the Patent Law Committee of the Intellectual Property Owners Association, and previously served as vice chair of the Licensing Committee. Prior to law school, Ian worked for an investment management firm in New York and lived in Beijing.

Iian Jablon is a seasoned trial attorney who represents individuals and businesses in a broad array of complex business disputes in federal and state courts, arbitrations and administrative proceedings. In addition to being a trusted advisor to law firms and professionals in numerous fields, he has extensive trial experience, including first-chairing high-stakes cases. Iian’s clients span a wide range of industries. His practice includes business litigation, intellectual property litigation, professional liability defense, securities litigation, complex class actions and white collar defense. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in complex disputes involving trade secrets, patents, fiduciary duties, contracts, securities, real estate, valuations, corporate governance, waste of corporate assets, bankruptcy and employment, among other issues. Iian is focused on finding practical solutions tailored to his clients’ business goals. In addition to his litigation practice, Iian has served as the firm’s general counsel since 2010, which gives him unique insights into the complex, multi-faceted issues that his clients confront. This perspective enables him to be highly responsive to his clients’ needs and act as a crucial confidential resource on a range of legal matters as they arise.

Described in Chambers USA as having “a remarkable ability to come up with creative solutions,” Jason Sheasby focuses on complex litigation, patents, trade secrets, antitrust, regulatory compliance and internal investigations. His experience spans a wide range of industries, including bio/pharmaceuticals, medical devices, semiconductors, telecommunications, electronics, higher education and healthcare. As an example of the wide diversity of his practice, in a single year, Jason was hired by a client post-trial to successfully reverse the largest patent verdict in history ($2.5 billion in a medicinal chemistry matter) and also obtained a $400 million jury verdict against the largest semiconductor manufacturer in the world. In another 12-month period, Jason obtained findings of infringement, validity and willfulness in each of three separate jury trials, with verdicts totaling more than $800 million. In the most recent one, he secured a $500 million verdict against Apple for damages over a period of 19 months in the first patent jury trial of the COVID-19 pandemic. The jury also found that Apple was willful and must pay an ongoing royalty. During this same period, Jason obtained a dismissal with prejudice of a multi-count antitrust and unfair competition complaint that accused his client and others of participating in a cartel and group boycott. As another example in a single 10-month period, Jason obtained three plaintiffs verdicts in total excess of $600 million, as well as a permanent injunction, and prevailed as a defendant in three cases alleging breach of contract and fraud, two tried to the bench and one resolved on summary judgment. While at Harvard Law School, Jason was a research assistant for Professor Arthur Miller and helped to revise Federal Practice & Procedure, the leading treatise on civil procedure. Jason is repeatedly named in industry awards including The American Lawyer's "Litigator of the Year," the Daily Journal’s “Top 100 Lawyers” and “Top IP Lawyers,” The National Law Journal’s “Winning Litigators” list and Law360’s “Trial MVPs.”

onathan Kagan focuses his practice on complex intellectual property disputes, with a particular emphasis on patent litigation. He also counsels clients in other areas of intellectual property, including trademark and copyright. Known as a "brilliant thinker who employs some very creative strategies” (Chambers USA), Jonathan represents clients in multiple industries, concentrating on the electronics sector, including semiconductors and internet infrastructure. He brings a sophisticated understanding of technology to his work and immerses himself in the technical details involved in each dispute. Jonathan has extensive experience leading teams of lawyers and coordinating with inter partes reviews before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). He is also adept at addressing indemnity issues when they arise in patent infringement lawsuits. Jonathan provides ongoing counsel on patent portfolios as well as the purchase and licensing of patents. Additionally, he provides strategic advice on patent pooling, swaps and other creative ways of acquiring and managing intellectual property. Jonathan is a past president of the Century City Bar Association and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. He is frequently invited to speak about the litigation of complex commercial and intellectual property disputes.

Private companies turn to Kyle Kawakami for effective, practical advice on a wide range of legal issues, from general corporate matters to transactions, real estate and taxation. Kyle is the managing partner of the Newport Beach office and has counseled clients in multiple industries—from high tech to agriculture—on the formation and maintenance of corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, private placements, venture capital financings and other general commercial transactions.

Lisa S. Glasser is a formidable litigator with extensive trial experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in matters involving patent infringement, licensing and other disputes surrounding complex technology issues. Her work has been repeatedly recognized, including recently as Litigator of Year (The American Lawyer), with the California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year (CLAY) award, as a Top IP Lawyer (Daily Journal) and as a Trial MVP (Law360). Lisa has also held significant management roles, including years of service on Irell's firmwide Management Committee and Irell's Executive Committee. Lisa is well-versed in a wide range of high technology and life sciences matters, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, imaging and computer science applications. Lisa’s strong grasp of the technological issues faced by her clients is key to distilling complex technical details into legal arguments that are persuasive to juries and judges. Lisa's litigation experience covers the entire process—from pre-litigation counseling to trial and appeal. She has handled jury trials in state and federal court, as well as trials in the Delaware Court of Chancery, the U.S. International Trade Commission and arbitrations.

Matt Ashley focuses his practice on high-stakes business litigation. With experience handling a wide array of highly complex matters for both plaintiffs and defendants, he counsels and represents clients in regard to contract and partnership disputes, real estate, unfair competition and antitrust law, insurance, intellectual property and trade secrets, business torts, securities fraud, and class actions, among others. Matt was recognized by the Daily Journal as having secured one of the top defense verdicts in California in 2021. Matt represents clients at all stages of the business life cycle, from pre-IPO private companies to receivers of bankrupt organizations. Clients appreciate his deep knowledge and analytical approach to each case as well as his ability to streamline and demystify complex issues. Matt works closely with his clients, keeping them informed about strategic developments at every stage of the litigation process. He approaches every matter as though it will go to trial, although he has also negotiated highly favorable settlements, often including complex insurance and tax components.

Michael Harbour

Michael Harbour represents clients in complex commercial disputes. His practice spans diverse areas of law, including antitrust, intellectual property, securities litigation, false advertising and unfair business practices, and class actions. Michael has experience in all stages of litigation and recently served as one of the lead counsel in a high-stakes confidential arbitration hearing involving computer imaging technology. He has also represented clients in precedent-setting appeals in courts throughout the country, including the United States Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of California, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Prior to joining Irell, Michael clerked for the Hon. Mary M. Schroeder of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He currently serves on the firm’s Hiring Committee and is co-chair of the Summer Committee.

Chambers USA has described Morgan Chu as “beyond doubt the most gifted trial lawyer in the USA” who “delivers staggering results for clients.” Morgan was co-managing partner of the firm for a maximum two terms from 1997 to 2003 and is presently chair of the Litigation practice group. Some of Morgan’s recent cases: Obtained a $2.3 billion final judgment for VLSI against Intel. Argued and won a 9-0 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning a Federal Circuit panel decision on appeals by patent applicants (Peter v. NantKwest). Argued and won a 3-0 Ninth Circuit antitrust defense victory decision for Fortress Investment Group. Secured a $948 million jury verdict, plus running royalties, for VLSI against Intel. Won a $1.2 billion judgment for Juno Therapeutics and the Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research against Kite Pharma (reversed on appeal). Morgan was lead trial counsel in some of the world’s largest—and, in some cases, precedent-setting—verdicts, judgments and settlements, resulting in actual payments totaling more than $9 billion.

Rebecca Carson’s practice encompasses a wide range of complex commercial litigation matters, with a focus on patent infringement and technology. Rebecca has significant trial experience, including recent trials in federal court and at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), one of which was selected as a Top Verdict by the Daily Journal. Rebecca also has experience arguing before the Federal Circuit and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Rebecca has been recognized by The Recorder as a top Woman Leader in Tech Law and by the Daily Journal as one of the Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 and one of the top IP Lawyers in California. Rebecca is co-hiring partner for Irell & Manella LLP’s Newport Beach office and an active member of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee. In addition, she has devoted a significant amount of time to the community. The Laguna Beach City Council has appointed Rebecca to various advisory committees since 2011. She currently serves as the elected chairperson on the city’s View Restoration Committee, which adjudicates view claims submitted by property owners to restore pre-existing views that are alleged to be significantly impaired by vegetation.

Richard Birnholz

Richard Birnholz has extensive experience in complex litigation in federal and state courts, concentrating on high-stakes patent litigation in courts throughout the country. He has tried cases in the United States district courts and before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and has successfully argued appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Richard was selected by Los Angeles Magazine for inclusion in the Southern California Rising Stars list in 2004 and the Southern California Super Lawyers list in 2005-2025. Before joining Irell & Manella LLP, Richard served as an extern for the Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, then a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. During law school, Richard served on the editorial board of the UCLA Law Review and published a comment entitled, "The Validity and Propriety of Contingent Fee Controls," 37 U.C.L.A. L. Rev. 949 (1990).

Rick Wirthlin's practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, securities law, joint ventures and executive compensation. He has extensive experience in a wide range of corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures of private and publicly held companies, equity and debt financings, private placements, public offerings, venture capital transactions, joint ventures, executive employment contracts and executive equity arrangements. Rick’s clients include privately held startup and emerging growth companies; publicly held companies; and corporate and individual investors, including institutional investors, private equity funds, entrepreneurs and C-suite corporate executives.

Samuel K. Lu represents clients in patent, trademark, trade secret and other intellectual property matters. Samuel has lectured on a number of patent issues, most recently on "The Markman Hearing: A Patent Holder's Perspective on Planning, Preparing, and Negotiating" and "The Fundamentals of Preliminary Injunctions, Permanent Injunctions, and Temporary Restraining Orders in Patent Cases."

Stephen Payne is a trial and appellate litigator focusing on complex commercial and intellectual property litigation. Stephen has significant trial experience, including six recent jury trials in federal court that resulted in verdicts totaling over $1.2 billion for Irell’s clients. He also has significant experience representing clients through all stages of the pre-trial process, including pre-litigation investigation, discovery, working with expert witnesses, and motion practice. Stephen also litigates matters on appeal and has both challenged and defended district court and Patent Office rulings in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Stephen has been recognized on the list of “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” every year since 2021. He serves as a member of Irell’s Hiring Committee and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Prior to joining Irell, Stephen clerked for the Hon. Sandra S. Ikuta of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He earned his J.D., with highest honors, from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif and served as comments editor for The University of Chicago Law Review. While in law school, Stephen worked as an extern in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.

Tony Rowles is a member of the firm’s Management Committee and focuses his practice on high-tech patent litigation, counseling and representing clients in district court patent litigation, appeals at the Federal Circuit, Section 337 investigations at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and prosecution and post-grant review proceedings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Tony has experience in all aspects of intellectual property litigation, including analyzing and valuing large IP portfolios, managing complex source code review, working closely with expert witnesses, arguing claim construction at Markman hearings and examining and cross-examining witnesses at trial. He also represents clients in a variety of other technology-related areas, including IP licensing and commercial disputes regarding IP ownership. Tony has been a core member of multiple Irell trial teams that have obtained significant victories for clients, including most recently securing more than $300 million—plus individual findings of willful infringement—for United Services Automobile Association in separate back-to-back trials against Wells Fargo relating to mobile remote deposit technology. Prior to law school, Tony helped develop robotic solutions to retail inventory management as a researcher on Intel’s “Future of Retail” project. He also worked as an engineer in the defense industry, creating machine vision and sensor tools for military platforms. Before college, Tony served as an intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army.